Attendance for Senators games will be a storyline all season - starting with home opener

The Senators will be playing their 2018-19 opener in a papered house on Thursday.

And even with the freebies offered to season ticket holders, the Canadian Tire Centre likely will be nowhere near capacity.

This is not a surprise but a warning to take with a grain of salt the attendance numbers that will be released after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks, which boast one of hockey’s most exciting players in Patrick Kane and are traditionally a good draw.

It will also continue to be an overshadowing storyline for a Senators team owned by Eugene Melnyk, who last December threatened to cut into the player’s salary budget unless turnouts didn’t improve last year and held true to his word. Melnyk also suggested he’d relocate the team (sentiments from which he was forced to backtrack), and while the Senators are not going anywhere, it’s widely expected he’ll either erupt again or just give up and sell the team if the numbers continue their downward trend.

How bad are they? That is unknown.

While the team won’t say, it’s believed more than 4,000 tickets were still available for the opener as of Wednesday afternoon. There has also been speculation that season tickets have plunged to the 4,000 mark, but the Senators won’t confirm or deny that.

What new COO Nicholas Ruszkowski told columnist Wayne Scanlan a few weeks ago was this:

“There’s always been a deficiency in season-ticket sales. They have averaged about 8,500 per season. We’ve never gotten to that sweet spot of having about 60 per cent of sales in season tickets. This year is no different. We’re not where we need to be. We have to create an environment where fans want to be part of the overall experience.”

Right now, too many of them are still bitter with the team for not re-signing and trading Erik Karlsson. And too many of them remain bitter with Melnyk.

By the sounds of it, all those people aren’t coming back until there’s a change in ownership.

The Senators are reaching out for new customers through their most faithful. A letter sent to at least some season ticket holders admitted last season’s disappointment, promised their commitment and offered a “token of appreciation” that is two tickets for Thursday, to be shared “with your friends, family, colleagues or simply another hockey fan.”

They might want to consider extending a similar offer for games after the opener, when some expect the building to be half full.

“Playing in front of a full barn at home, it’s always a treat,” said assistant captain Mark Borowiecki. “It makes the game that much more exciting and it gives you that much more energy.

“Obviously, there’s a relationship that needs mending a little bit, between ownership and fans. I get that. That some people hold some resentment. That’s on us to make that better. We’re going to do our part as players.”

That part, he added, is to send the “right message” to fans, and hoping they climb back aboard.

That message? The team works hard.

“You watch those last two pre-season games and don’t think we were exciting to watch?,” said Borowiecki. “We’re a pretty exciting team. We’re generating a lot on offence, we’re generating off our forecheck. We’ve got five guys in the play. We’ve got ‘D’ active. We’re going to be a fun team to watch. We’ve got some big speed up front. I think we’re going to do some good things.

“Are they’re going to be struggles? Absolutely. Every team has them, from the bottom to the top of the standings. But if fans stick with us here, we’re going to do our best to go out there and make sure it’s exciting.”

Maybe so, but this season the attendance will be the most important numbers on the game sheet in Ottawa.

IN MY OPINION

The Senators hiring of Rob Murphy as a pro scout was a good move. A 49-year old native of Hull who played for the team in its first year, Murphy scouted here under the Murray regime and he’s a smart hockey guy …The Senators goalie of the future, Filip Gustavsson, was sent to Brampton of the ECHL so he could play ever game. Because they’re not giving him that kind of ice time in Belleville, their future is further away that I thought …. If Zack Smith would have been claimed on waivers, would Borowiecki be a full time alternate captain or would he have shared the ‘A’ with someone else? Just wondering.

ICE CHIPS

Told the Vancouver Canucks players have instituted a band against playing Fortnite on road trips, Craig Anderson agreed that hobbies shouldn’t interfere with work but also admitted to his own gaming addiction. “I’ve heard of (Fortnite), I saw a couple of guys play it, but I’ve never actually participated,” he said. “Some might say you should ban simulation racing, and then I’ll be out of there. I spend a lot of hours on that.” How many hours? “In the winter, when it’s minus-20 here? Several hours a day,” said Anderson … What do teammates call Dylan DeMelo? The regular hockey nickame — tacking “ey” to a guy’s last name, doesn’t work in this case. “Mine’s just Mellow,” said the new Senators defenceman. “Guys are like ‘oh, it’s Carmelo Anthony,’ but no, guys have called me Mellow and that’s kind of stuck. I guess it’s just short and easy.” Does the handle in any way describe his personality? “I think I’m a pretty chill guy, but I wouldn’t say that,” said DeMelo. Oh, so you’re more a Carmelo Anthony type? “Not that lavish, either,” he said.

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